Boot camp graduation.
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A friend of mine pointed out to me that I hadn’t shown any photos or written any adventures on here about when I traveled to Georgia in December for my nephew’s boot camp graduation. I thought she was crazy, but after looking back through the blog I realized she was right!
There really weren’t too many adventures, unless you can call absolutely horrible bumper to bumper traffic an adventure, which for me it was because I am NOT used to that where I live.
I drove 6 hours from where I live to Nashville, Tennessee and stayed overnight then drove another 6 hours the next morning in the final lap of the trip to Columbus, Georgia where Fort Benning is located. I spent the night in Columbus very close to the base and headed over the next morning for graduation. Graduation was pretty neat. The speaker talked a lot about the history of the infantry, and some chosen soldiers put on a “show” of sorts. Here are some photos of that:
There were flags displayed for every state.
The show or demonstration started by them throwing out some canisters that smoked in different colors.
Then the “strikers” drove in loaded up with soldiers and they ran out and got into formation.
It was a little scary, because they were walking toward US, the audience!
And then out of the woods appeared the graduates.
There were MANY. This is a small portion. I couldn’t get them all in the photos!
My nephew didn’t want to hang around too long after graduation, as you can imagine, but he did let me make a few stops to take photos and we made a visit to the National Infantry Museum on base.
I think this is fairly new, and it’s beautiful. We didn’t go through the whole thing because he was just wanting to hit the road, but I saw some really cool stuff.
There was this beautiful walkway that I saw as soon as I pulled into the parking lot and knew I wanted to get a photo of it. I’m not sure what the flags represent, perhaps one for every state? I didn’t count them. As I was trying to find a place to stand where I could get them all in the frame, I thought it appropriate that the 2 soldiers chose that moment to walk down the path and I like the photo even better because of that.
The walkway is lined with bricks engraved with the names of soldiers.
Inside the building, this is the entrance to one of the most amazing museum displays I have ever seen.
Behind that wall you enter the exhibit. There were scenes depicted from 8 different battles from all the different wars we have fought. There were glass display cases full of different uniforms and gear from the different wars. The statues used in the scenes were so lifelike it was crazy. Like this guy:
Sometimes there would be a video playing of the actual war from that scene. Like this one. That’s an actual full-size helicopter with the doors open so you could see all the way through, but in the opening of the door in the back there was a “movie screen” for lack of a better word with old Vietnam footage playing on it.
Lots of history here. I would have liked to have had more time to go through the exhibit slowly, but that nephew of mine was in a hurry to leave. ha ha
Then there was the lovely Birmingham, Alabama 5:00 p.m. traffic. Oh. My. Lord. If you look closely at the photo below, you’ll see how the line of cars kind of curves to the right and then goes up that big ol’ hill and then curves to the right again. Yeah, bumper to bumper the whole way. And yes, I took that photo from the car IN that traffic because I was SITTING STILL. And let me just tell you…..for some individuals such as myself who live with stupid anxiety disorder, sitting in a car and not being able to move for long periods of time (hell, even short periods of time)….. is NOT GOOD. But I was okay and made it through, even though that same stretch from Nashville to Georgia that only took 6 hours this time it was 8 hours on the way back from Georgia to Nashville. Lesson learned. Time your trip before or after rush hour traffic.
I also learned that due to my neck troubles (disk spurs in my spine) 6 or 8 hours is TOO LONG of a drive all at once, and I will not be able to do that ever again.
Of course, after we arrived back at my house we took time for a photo shoot. I don’t know when I will see this young man again, and he’s going to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in August or September, so I wanted to document it. Here he is in his “dress greens.” Is this “kid” handsome or what?
This one is my personal favorite:
Please go check out all the photos I took of him in his dress greens on my photography site here. I couldn’t be more proud of this kid.
Filed under Photography, Life | Comment (1)Pet Photo Contest - February
This month on th Pets Jubilee team it’s all about the lovin’. Enter the pet photo contest with a photo of your pet with something it loves, something you love about your pet, etc. You can go here to send your photo and enter. The rules are on that same page on the right side.
You can also check out the etsy shop for Pets Jubilee and buy a sampler box of pet paraphernalia. Lots of different shops contribute items for the boxes so you get a variety of things like homemade treats, bows, cards, magnets, and who knows what else. It’s different every month depending on which shop contributes items. There are even grab bags for only $3.00. Go check that out here.
Filed under Life | Comment (0)Goodbye, my friend.
As I write this, it is Friday, February 5, 2010.
Anita left this world today at 10 a.m. I received an e-mail from her friend Becky, who is the reason I met Anita in the first place. I am beyond shocked.
I am in a state of disbelief.
I can’t stop crying. Mostly because I just finished the little mini scrapbook for her children that I showed here about a week or so ago and it’s still sitting in the box on my desk waiting to be mailed. The title “Remember” that I chose for the cover really strikes a chord with me now. I thought of her for days while I made that little book. Along with the journal that I made last October for Anita to write in. Sitting here in the box. There’s a card in the box that I wrote to Anita and a worry stone that I had bought her a long time ago. And the 2-page layout made by Mandy Douglass from the Creating Keepsakes magazine article about us in February of last year. I always felt that she should have it instead of me, so it was in the box also. I regret that I never sent it.
Meeting her was a huge experience in my life, and so many people who read this blog (and who don’t) helped me to make the trip to Canada and make my dream to meet Anita and deliver her scrapbooks that we made for her a reality. I have always been so grateful for each one of you, but now even more so. You will never ever know what it meant to me, to see all of you strangers to me (and some not) come together and donate your money and bid on my auctions so that I could make the trip happen. Making those scrapbooks for Anita and making that trip and meeting her in person and corresponding with her via e-mail and phone before and after that trip…..the whole experience……is something that changed me as a person inside. It’s impossible to explain. I will never ever forget all of you doing that.
I will never forget HER. I am so saddened by the loss of her, I can’t even tell you. There are no words.
Anita, you will always be a part of my story.
Filed under Life | Comments (3)Cliff.
I came across this video from somewhere else and instantly fell in love with this young man. His name is Cliff. What he is done is overwhelmingly wonderful. What a huge heart he has. He makes this world a better place in which to live. He made me cry without saying ONE word.
Filed under Life | Comment (1)I Won!
In the couple of months I’ve been notified that I’ve won something 3 times…. and it’s so exciting because I never win anything!
First, I won a $30 gift certificate through the blog We Are That Family to Eden Home, which I had never heard of and was interested to check out. I’m not the eco-friendliest person you’ll ever meet, I’m sorry to say, but I’ve been wanting to find some nice water bottles for myself and my daughter because we try to drink a lot and I stopped buying plastic water bottles from the grocery store (my daughter IS the eco-friendly type). So I got these great brushed stainless steel colored water bottles with a sports cap, pink for me and blue for her.
Look how they packaged up each bottle all nice and personal.
And then the added in a free reusable grocery tote bag, which is WAY sturdier than the Target and Walgreen’s ones that I own now. I don’t know what this thing is made out of, but it’s NICE.
Then, a month ago I got an e-mail from Elizabeth Kartchner, who I adore, saying that I had won a set of tags from Shabby Chic Crafts (who I also adore)! Yay! I absolutely love this company and their tags and have purchased from them before, so I am very excited about winning these and can’t wait to receive them in the mail!
THEN, when I was still riding on the happy wave of winning that, I got an e-mail from Thrifty Mama B saying that I had won an 18×24 poster from UPrinting. Now, THIS was exciting. Cause if you know me…..then you know I love to take photos. And I love to display my photos all over my house. So I ordered my very favorite photo of my daughter as my free poster and it just arrived and is so beautiful. I need to buy a frame for it and find just the spot to display it.
I ordered this one:
My husband is a comedian.
Found this taped to my dresser last Sunday.
It says, “Why lose weight when you can redistribute it?”
Now, I’m not sure why he thought of ME when he read this, because this has NEVER happened to ME.
I told my husband he’s so funny he should take his act to Hollywood…..
Filed under Life | Comment (1)Twilight.
I have been hearing about this book (and this movie) for ages now and just wasn’t interested. I felt like the only person on the planet who hadn’t read the book! Then I saw the trailer for the movie New Moon and it got me a bit interested. So the other day I finally got my hands on the book Twilight at the library and started reading it……
Oh. My. Lord. Now I FINALLY know what all the hype is about. I couldn’t put it down. I was up until 1:00 this morning reading the stupid thing because I couldn’t go to sleep until I finished it. And now I’m like person #30 in a waiting list to check out the next book (New Moon) at my local library!!!! I can’t stand the suspense, people!!!! I think I may lose my mind before the book gets here. Ack.
A friend told me the movie totally sucks compared to the book and not to bother renting it because I’ll be disappointed. But I can’t stand that either and I want to go rent it to see for myself.
Have you seen the movie?
Have you read it? Did you love it?
Filed under Life | Comment (1)
Practical Scrappers.
Yay! I was chosen for the new design team at Practical Scrappers. There’s a new theme every week with each day showcasing a different design team member’s projects. Mine will be on Tuesdays and I’m the 8.5×11 layout girl! Woo hoo!
There’s also a forum where you can chat and post your own projects, so all you scrapbookers and cardmakers go on over and join, why doncha? My new term starts next week and I can’t wait to get started!
Pet Photo Contest - January.
My etsy team PetsJubilee is having another pet photo contest this month on the blog. You can submit a photo of your pet with something new. There are already some cute entries, so even if you don’t want to enter go check them out here. Here’s the info:
What better way to usher in the New Year than with something new from our furbabies?! Send in your photo, slide show, or video of your pet with something new. Maybe it’s a picture of your new furbaby, or something they received for the holidays, or a photo depicting their New Year resolution. Add some words to be posted with their pic to go along with the theme.
We’ll be accepting entries from January 1st through the 17th at noon, EST. Visit us in the forums where we’ll be hanging out and introducing the new entries until voting begins on the 18th.
We welcome all pets: dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, hamsters, geckos, chickens, frogs, turtles, snakes, pigs, horses, just to name a few.
Here are the rules:
Submit your entry to petsjubilee@live.com through noon EST on January 17, 2009. (Please do not convo it).
- One entry per contestant (may be of multiple pets).
- INCLUDE with your entry the name of your pet(s), a little write up to go with your picture and either your picture, actual video or a link to where it can be seen (blog, youtube, flickr, photobucket, etc.)
- The entry must be of your pet(s).
-We reserve the right to omit entries that do not fit within the guidelines.
- You must have an Etsy account to participate, but it is not necessary to have an Etsy account to vote.
- Members of PetsJubilee team ARE eligible to participate.
- Previous winners (pets and their humans) are not eligible for the following 6 months.
VOTING:
- Voting will be from January 18, 2010 through January 24, 2010 at 12:00 noon EST.
- Look at the entries and pick one (per day) to vote on.
To vote, leave a comment by clicking on the Comment link under the pet you would like to vote for.
Then click on “Post a Comment”
Type your comment.
Type the “word verification”
Under “Choose an Identity”, click Google (Blogger), Open Id, Name/URL or Anonymous and enter your information. IF YOU CHOOSE ANONYMOUS, YOU MUST “SIGN” YOUR COMMENT WITH SOME ID NAME. You can use your Etsy, Artfire, AOL name - just something unique. (ie. I think such and so is so adorable. Sincerely, petsjubilee.etsy.com).
- NEW: One vote per person per day.
- Any comments made that don’t adhere to these rules will be deleted.
- If you have any questions, email them to petsjubilee@live.com and I’ll respond as soon as I can.
- The entry with the most votes will be announced here on January 25th. In the event of a tie, the person who submitted their entry first will be deemed the winner. The order in which the contestants are displayed is not necessarily the order in which they were received.
Prizes:
The winner will receive a free PetsJubilee sampler box and the winning pet will send a photo to be the team store avatar for the month of February. If the winning contestant has an Etsy store, we’ll also post a link to your shop with a write-up from our blog.
Rules subject to change without notice. Check back for updates. Email us with any questions.
Filed under Life | Comment (1)The Indy Racing Experience.
On September 11, 2009, our family surprised my husband with the Indy Racing Experience at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway. He has described it as, besides the days his children were born, the greatest day of his life (noticed he mentions nothing of marrying ME in there! ha ha). Three and a half months have passed and he is STILL talking about it to anyone who will listen. I had the photos printed immediately and he looks through them every evening and watches the DVD of the video that we took at least once a week. It was really a fun day. If you have a race fan in your family, you might want to think about doing this for them when Father’s Day rolls around. They have it at the track in Indianapolis from (I think) May to September and in the winter months you can go to Florida. I think their track may be near Disney World.
It was actually a huge surprise to my husband. His daughter is a nurse and we told him that she was having an award lunch for her department and it was going to be at the restaurant at the Indy 500 track and she invited us to come see her receive the award. All lies! ha ha We met up at her apartment that morning along with my husband’s son, granddaughter, and sister and brother-in-law.
He never suspected a thing even at the point where we got to the racetrack and parked and then in this garage bay we all had to sign in on a sheet and say whether we were driving or riding or a guest. We all signed in before my husband and put “guest” but when he signed in he didn’t know what to do and the lady was asking him if he was a rider or driver and he was like “Hell yes I’d like to drive,” but didn’t realize that he really WAS going to drive! So we pulled him aside for a moment and told him SURPRISE and he was floored. Here are a few photos from his day.
our arrival at the racetrack
Summer took a photo of him all “suited up” !
I loved that they let our entire family sit in on the “driving class” that Ken had to go through before driving. It was pretty neat.
More being “suited up”
Summer with Ken waiting on his turn to drive. There were a couple guys in front of him and 1 woman, but we didn’t have to wait long. They really have their procedure working like a well-oiled machine at the track.
Ken really enjoyed talking to Stephan Gregoire beforehand. He was giving him tips on how to steer here, I think. He was very nice and didn’t act like it was a bother at all to stand and chat with Ken while he was waiting for his turn to drive.
He really was just the nicest guy to pose for all of us taking photos.
Ken with the car he drove on the left and the car he rode in back of on the right
Ken taking off in the car as he began his first lap!
Then after he drove 3 laps around the racetrack, he got into a 2-seater car with Davey Hamilton driving and he rode around 2 laps going 180 mph. He says it was exhilirating and didn’t last long enough!
It’s a tight squeeze!
There they go………. zoom zoom zoom …………
This is right after he got out of the car. It’s my favorite photo from the whole day because my husband’s face just radiates with happiness!
Ken even got interviewed by a TV station in Indy, channel 8 WISH TV. The reporter lady told us it would be on the news that weekend, but since we don’t live there we didn’t get to see it. I’ve tried to e-mail her to ask how to get a copy, but never got a response from her. Ken was disappointed. All in all, it was a great and very fun day!
Filed under Life, Projects | Comment (0)
